h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Teenage Use Of The Word Random - A31575846
Author: flyingford_prefect - U10845568

Foreward

I thought as a useful, helpful, handy guide, I would write something on the teenage use of the word random.
The word "RANDOM" as used by teenagers has as many meanings as one can care to think of. Sometimes therefore, it could be difficult to work out exactly what the teenager in question is trying to say.
Meanings

Many of the meanings of the word "RANDOM" mean odd/weird/strange. Actually most of them do.
This is something adults often fail to understand, in all it's myriad uses, a teenager usually means odd. It is just the fact that where it is used varies so greatly.
Something adults also often don't understand is that the actual dictionary meaning has very little to do with it's meaning in most circumstances. This is generally the problem adults face when trying to understand what teenagers are saying, they are much too literal. Forget the dictionary. Also forget maths.

Tip: If confused, substitute the word random for weird or odd and see if it makes any more sense.
Examples

This is an example that actually happened to me.
Around town a series of ads were being put up. They were ads for the movie "V for Vendetta". As you may know, at first just a block of white text on a black background was up. Several weeks later, probably about a month, a red V in a red circle was pasted over the top. Another month later, the movie details were put up on the other side of the black background. Soon afterwards I was talking about it with my mum.

Me: You know those V for Vendetta ads?
Mum: Yeah.
Me: They're really random.
Mum: Actually it's incredibly organised.

This is a classic example when the meaning of the word is taken too literally.
Other overused teenage words

Some other words that teenagers use a lot and almost always incorrectly:
Cheap (sometimes this is mistaken for expensive but actually means a rip off)
Awesome
Cool (the classic)
Sick (very cool)
Rock/s (very cool)
Suck/s (bad, uncool)
If you have any more suggestions, leave a note.

This is totally random .... and I like it.

I like this, and will check it out!

It reminds me of the word 'Radical' which originally meant 'Root' and now means exactly the opposite, but I cannot give it a modern definition, as there are too many!

Maybe an entry there?

*Not me, I've got gazillions on the go, with 35 in written form-ish!!!*

MMF

Hi wonko, there's certainly the basis for an article here however it currently requires quite a bit of work to bring it within the writing guidelines
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/Writing-Guidelines

If you want help then perhaps put it in the writing workshop. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/Writing-Workshop

In order to move it to the workshop if you find the entry in the list and click on the small x alongside it you can then transfer it to the writing workshop at the above link.

ST. (Scout)

what you haven't said is that whenever they say somthing like the word "you", half the letters are missing but you would never notice because it sounds the same

i have never heard the word random used in this way, but it is used as a word when you have nothing to say

i say cheese in the same way, for absolutely no reason

Wonko, are you interested in working on this to bring it in line with the Guidelines for the Edited Guide? If not, that's okay, it's still part of the Guide, just not an Entry that will be featured on the Front Page.

If you'd like help just ask, or if you're done with it, can you please remove it from Peer Review, the forum you've submitted it to, by clicking on "Remove" or "X" next to your entry here : PeerReview

(If it's not on the first page, just click "See More Guide Entries in Review" at the bottom)

I'd love it if you could shine some light on where people got it from. Usually these things take off from a TV show or something.

it's just a silly thing to say like cheese
of random


someone makes it up and the rest follow
it's been through my friends and gone already